1 . My work started in 2003 at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. It seems like such a long time ago. In the 13 years that have ______, more than 50,000 animals have passed the doors of the ______. Most of them, I do not remember. But ______ there are animals who stand out. Tabby was one such ______.

Tabby was one of the many ______ dogs. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s ______ to be adopted seemed small. But one day a woman ______ Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, who ______ epilepsy (癫痫) had seen Tabby’s picture ______ the shelter’s website. They were ______ in meeting her! Most boys would want a puppy, a dog who could ______ with him and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would never be able to do that. But as they say, “love is blind.” After meeting her, they decided to ______ Tabby!

If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her ______ adoption, it would still have been something very ______ indeed. But it was ______ happened after her adoption that some might label as “magical”. They became inseparable. They got along well with each other so that Tabby could sense Gary’s seizures(疾病发作)before they ______, giving his family a ______ that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s ______.

How could it be? There are some things that challenge logic and understanding in this world. Sometimes the best that we can do is to accept a ______, which we couldn’t attempt to explain. Because when you try to ______ it, you lose the beauty and miracle of it all.

1.

A．passed

B．created

C．wasted

D．imitated

2.

A．park

B．hospital

C．shelter

D．destination

3.

A．usually

B．occasionally

C．frequently

D．always

4.

A．animal

B．backpack

C．guest

D．treasure

5.

A．content

B．homeless

C．disappointing

D．comfortable

6.

A．chances

B．challenges

C．adventures

D．discussions

7.

A．ordered

B．sold

C．advertised

D．named

8.

A．got across

B．got through

C．suffered from

D．broke up

9.

A．beyond

B．on

C．with

D．between

10.

A．serious

B．bored

C．curious

D．interested

11.

A．agree

B．grow

C．deal

D．doubt

12.

A．destroy

B．win

C．adopt

D．save

13.

A．successful

B．straight

C．traditional

D．miserable

14.

A．special

B．normal

C．similar

D．difficult

15.

A．which

B．when

C．where

D．what

16.

A．noticed

B．greeted

C．occurred

D．met

17.

A．release

B．warning

C．requirement

D．conflict

18.

A．date

B．damage

C．habit

D．arrival

19.

A．decision

B．contest

C．miracle

D．promise

20.

A．describe

B．forgive

C．believe

D．explain

2 . A Spanish project is attempting to use 3D-printed coral reefs to provide habitat for fish and protection for beaches and coastal communities at risk from rising seas and other damage.

Coral reefs are decreasing globally, and some scientists say we could lose 70% - 90% of our reefs due to warming ocean waters. That has all kinds of serious influences because a quarter of the world’s fish live in and around reefs. Reefs are important protectors of coastal communities threatened by high waves, and they support the biodiversity (生物多样性). That led Nadia Fani and her co-founder Astrid Kramer to start Coastruction, a non-profit organization.

“Even if you start on a small scale (规模)... a square kilometer already, it could have a great impact,” Fani says. “It could really protect a coast, a beach, or an area where there is a community and it needs protection because the sea level is rising.”

Being able to use 3D printing is important, because you can match individual sites. Every location is different with different coral species. “It’s like everybody has a different house,” Fani says. “You can take into account habitat requirements of not just the coral but also the fish that live nearby. ”

Their present technology can print various shapes. The result can be an amazingly natural-looking man-made rock with plenty of corners for both coral and fish to attach themselves and make homes.

The Coastruction founders don’t think they can possibly meet the global demand, so their goal is to provide the tools — like the 3D printer — for local people and develop the technology to create the artificial (人造的) coral reefs by using cheap and locally-available materials. No high temperatures or chemical additives are required, and any loose powder or sand material not used in one print will be used in the next. The 3D printer works on-site, so there’s no transport of finished blocks required.

1. What does the underlined word “That” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The biodiversity of coral reefs.	B．The reduction in coral species.
C．The warming of ocean waters.	D．The loss of global coral reefs.

2. What do Fani’s words imply?

A．3D-printed reefs can hardly save the ocean.

B．3D-printed reefs fail to provide perfect fish habitat.

C．Small actions make a difference to ocean protection.

D．Small-scale production of reefs is a drop in the ocean.

3. What result can the present 3D printing achieve now?

A．Creating lifelike reefs.	B．Lowering reefs’ temperatures.
C．Printing regular-shaped reefs.	D．Using any material to produce reefs.

4. What is one goal of the Coastruction founders?

A．Putting their reefs into mass production.

B．Transporting finished reefs to more places.

C．Adapting their technology for local conditions.

D．Adding chemicals to reefs to make them colorful.

3 . There’s nothing wrong with a tomato that isn’t perfectly round or a peach with an extra dimple or two; they still carry the same benefits and flavors as the versions we’re used to seeing in grocery stores (食品杂货店). Farmers throw away these imperfect items, as many grocery chains won’t buy them for fear that they are unsellable. However, a growing group of grocery chains are fighting to make these discarded fruit and vegetables part of consumers’ buying habits.

One such business is Imperfect Produce, a start-up that provides fresh ugly produce for consumers. Through this service, you can get up to 20 pounds of fruit and vegetables for around $20 a week. This is about a 30 percent discount compared to what’s now sold in stores. Recently, the company had a major advancement when Whole Foods Market accepted their partnership and agreed to sell the misshapen produce.

While this movement might be a new trend here in the U.S., it’s already gained serious momentum (势头) in Europe. In 2014, the EU announced the European Year Against Food Waste, with French supermarket chain Intermarché launching a very successful campaign called Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables and England’s Waitrose selling weather blemished apples. In Portugal, a similar company to Imperfect Produce called Fruta Feia has also taken off.

Buying the unfortunate-looking produce should be attractive to consumers not only because of the affordability, but also because of the support it gives to farmers and the direct impact it has on reducing food waste and environmental pollution. When the discarded fruit and vegetables decompose, they release (释放) methane (CH.), a greenhouse gas. When released into the air, it is about 86 times as powerful as carbon dioxide (CO,) over a 20-year period. Waste is, in fact, the ugliest thing of all.

1. What does the underlined word “discarded” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Thrown away.

B．Harvested.

C．Eaten up.

D．Packaged.

2. What is the purpose of Imperfect Produce?

A．To make better profits.	B．To sell unattractive goods.
C．To get discounts from farmers.	D．To compete with Whole Foods Market.

3. What can we learn about Europe from paragraph 3?

A．It hardly produces misshapen fruit and vegetables.

B．It has more successful food chains than the U.S.

C．It is facing the serious problem of unfavorable weather.

D．It solves the problem of ugly produce earlier than America.

4. How does wasted produce harm the environment according to paragraph 4?

A．It pollutes the farms.	B．It gives off a bad smell.
C．It contributes to global warming.	D．It produces lots of carbon dioxide.

4 . Most people who ran the marathon last month spent days before resting up and days after recovering. But not Jacky Hunt-Broersma. In total, she ran 104 marathons in 104 days. If it’s confirmed by Guinness World Records, that would be a new world record. And she did it all with one leg and a prosthesis (假肢).

“Someone able-bodied had done it previously. I wanted to see if I could do it on a prosthetic leg and see what would happen,” she said. “I thought it would be a great way to inspire others to push their limits because I truly believe that we’re stronger than what we think. And I’ve been so pleasantly surprised that my body is held up, everything is held up and I’ve made it to 104.”

She actually did not pick up the sport until after she lost the lower part of her left leg in 2001 to a type of cancer called Ewing sarcoma. Runners using a prosthetic leg can’t use a regular one. They need a running blade (刀锋式跑步义肢). Hunt-Broersma has two, but she was only able to run with one because of the swelling she experienced in her left leg that made it impossible to connect to the other blade. But even with the pain that occurred, she has been able to put up with it and continued.

All together, Hunt-Broersma ran over 4, 385 kilometers. During that time she has had a lot of time to think and has learned a few things about herself. “It has taught me how strong one can be and how important absolute determination is. If you’re mentally strong, you can do anything,” she said. “And our bodies are just amazing ... This whole journey was impressive and super hard, but it’s told me how strong I can be as a person and how far I can push myself.”

1. Why did Hunt-Broersma decide to run marathons?

A．She wanted to set a new record.

B．She intended to challenge herself.

C．She was driven by her interest.

D．She was inspired by people like her.

2. What difficulty did Hunt-Broersma meet with?

A．She didn’t get professional training.

B．She found it hard to keep her balance.

C．She suffered discomfort in her left leg.

D．She couldn’t use regular running blades.

3. What message does the author express through the story?

A．Rome wasn’t built in a day.

B．Time works wonders.

C．A good beginning is half the battle.

D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

4. What may be the author’s attitude towards Hunt-Broersma?

A．Annoyed.	B．Sympathetic.
C．Admiring.	D．Humorous.

5 . Discover Our Winter Camps This Season

Spaces Edu
Ages 13-17 Years

Are you looking for an exciting and creative way to develop computer skills? Spaces Edu is the perfect course for students who want to bring their imaginations to life by coding(编码)their own VR projects. In this course, students will learn how to create 3D objects and will also learn how to collect information quickly, as well as how to share their creations online and experience them with VR headsets(头戴式耳机). This is an advanced course so some coding experience is necessary.

Necessary Life Skills
Ages 12-13 Years

This course will offer important real-life skills for students which will prepare them for their university. Students will learn how to create their own detailed résumés(简历)as well as how to prepare for interviews so they are prepared and filled with confidence as they take the next steps in life.

French through Art & Culture
Ages 8-11 Years

Join us this spring as we travel in time through the richness of French music, people and colors. Each day, students will build their understanding of the language through a different way. As students become interested in French art and culture they will develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

First Steps
Ages 7-12 Years

In this introductory course for beginners, students will learn the basics of computer in Python. The course will focus on learning Python programming and then using the knowledge and skills to create computer programs. Using an online learning platform(平台), students will be guided through their learning of Python basics. Students should bring their own computers.

1. Which camp is suitable for students who prepare for college life?

A．French through Art & Culture.	B．Necessary Life Skills.
C．Spaces Edu.	D．First Steps.

2. What can students do in French through Art & Culture?

A．Improve their French.	B．Travel in France.
C．Organize an art show.	D．Create a 3D painting.

3. What do Spaces Edu and First Steps have in common?

A．They are perfect for beginners.	B．They are open to students aged 7.
C．Computers will be used.	D．Free headsets will be provided.

6 . Who needs friends? According to most psychologists we all do, especially nowadays when so many other aspects of modern life are changing. It seems that having friends keeps us both healthy and happy.

The number of TV series about groups of friends shows just how important friendship is to us. Psychologist Dorothy Rowe says that many of us now turn to our friends, instead of our families, for advice and comfort. One woman named Rebecca she interviewed even told her that if she had got to choose between her husband and her friend, she would choose her friend.

Since our friends mean so much to us, it is not surprising that the happiest marriages are also friendships. “Once the romantic stage of a relationship has passed, it is friendship that holds people together,” says Rowe. If the couple do not make some changes. They will either get tired of each other and break up or stay together and look for friendship with others.

For men, friendship is usually based on doing things together rather than the private conversations that are typical of women friends. Men share time building a business or playing football together, but they don’t often share their feeling. Although many women find their relationship with a husband or boyfriend is not enough, many men say that their partner is their best friend. Even women who are very happily married are likely to become very unhappy without a close friend and can even find the break-up of a close friendship as painful as the end of a marriage.

Lasting friendships can provide a lot of the same support that families provided in the past, but the perfect situation is to have your family there for you as well. Friendships and family relationships can both change, but a friend will not consider you when making really important decisions in the same way that a family member will.

1. The example of Rebecca in paragraph 2 shows that some people think ________.

A．one friend is more than enough.	B．friends are just like their family.
C．friends matter more than family.	D．friends make them more comfortable.

2. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Couples tend to be friends in a good marriage.

B．Couples will have new friendship after they get married.

C．Friendship help couples build healthy relationships.

D．Friendship hold couples together when romance has passed.

3. What is the main difference between men’s and women’s friendship?

A．Women often do things together with friends.

B．Men seldom talk to their friends about their feelings.

C．Women often talk about business with friends.

D．Men often talk to their friends about work and family.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Friendship cannot replace family relationships.

B．Friendship can last longer than family relationships.

C．Friendship and family relationships are both changeable.

D．Family members help you make better decisions than friends do.

9 . What is art? That’s an easy question to answer. Art is a painting, a drawing or a sculpture. Now there are new items to add to the list. Art is a dead shark in a glass case. Artisan unmade bed. Art is a video of a group of people standing completely still for sixty minutes.

A new group of young artists began to produce work to challenge the accepted idea of what art is and the role the artist should play in society. This group came to be known as the YBAs — the Young British Artists. The art of the YBAs does not just stick to painting and sculpture. It uses all kinds of different materials to express the feeling of the artist.

Damien Hirst is the most famous of the YBAs. The Shark in the Box is his work and is meant to express his own fear of dying. The shark stands for death. Right now, it is harmless. But eventually it will come for you. There is nothing to be done about it.

Traditionally, artists have a message. They use their skills to lead us to enlightenment (启迪). The message of the YBAs is that they cannot do this. They are just as mixed up and confused as everybody else. A journalist once asked Damien Hirst what his next idea was for an artwork. “I don’t know what I’m going to do next. I never know what I’m going to do next,” he replied.

Another YBA, Tracy Emin recently produced a work called “Bed”. This is just her own bed with the sheets dis arranged and dirty. And the message? “Look at me — I’m a mess.”

Some artists work with citizens in producing their work. Gillian Wearing filmed a group of people dressed as policemen trying to keep still for 60 minutes while standing on top of a table. At the end of that time, the table falls apart and everyone falls to the floor. You can try to be a good citizen and a respectable member of the community. But don’t try too hard or the pressure will be too much.

Art mirrors the sale of society. In the work of the YBAs we can see a society on the threshold (开端) of the future — a bit worried, a bit excited and wondering what is going to happen next. The YBAs can’t guide us, but they can make the journey more interesting.

1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing Paragraph l?

A．To provide background information.	B．To start a topic for the readers.
C．To present the main idea of the text.	D．To introduce the key characters in the text.

2. What’s the aim of YBAs?

A．To challenge the society.	B．To change the whole world.
C．To challenge the fixed idea about the art.	D．To change the materials of the painting

3. What does Tracy Emin want to convey in her work “Bed”?

A．She is as messy as herbed.	B．She is going to tidy her bed.
C．She is willing to arrange herbed.	D．She is lonely and annoyed.

4. Which is the best title of the passage?

A．What Is Art?	B．Art Mirrors the State of Society
C．New Art Forms Appear	D．A Special Art Team—YBAs

10 . Youth Art For Healing is a non-profit organization founded by Jan Papirmeister in 2012. As the Executive Director, she makes great efforts to work with schools, hospitals and other healthcare organizations to bring works of art created by the youth into healthcare environments. She wants to provide a sense of comfort, inspiration and healing for patients, their loved ones and healthcare professionals during very challenging times.

Papirmeister is one of our favorite world changers. As a child, she donated her artworks to a volunteer group caring for dying people and a camp for children with cancer. She felt pity for them so she hoped her works could bring a little help. When she grew up, she became a school nurse and showed students how to create drawings to decorate the walls of the health office. Then, as a hospital nurse, she made the time to sit with patients and create art with them. In her job as a nurse, she realized works of art could really help patients feel better.

Her organization Youth Art For Healing is based in Bethesda, MD. It provides opportunities for students to learn about the nature of healing art, the power of art to heal, how to follow guidelines for healing art, the role of the art in healthcare, and the value of building and strengthening community connections and spirit. As students share their talent with those in need, students come to the realization that they can make a difference.

Papirmeister was awarded a Society for the Arts in Healthcare grant(拨款)to bring artworks to patients, their families and staff of the oncology unit(肿瘤科). She also received two SCORE Awards for her efforts to comfort patients and their families. This woman is a shining example of an artist and healer who uses the healing power of art to bring huge benefits to children, patients, their loved ones, healthcare providers, and the community at large.

1. Why did Jan Papirmeister most probably start the organization?

A．To make a fortune out of it.

B．To encourage kids to develop artistic taste.

C．To offer people mental support through art.

D．To help improve doctors' medical skills.

2. What do we learn about Jan Papirmeister when she was little?

A．She often changed her dreams.

B．She was generous and cared about others.

C．Her artworks were highly appreciated by experts.

D．She was greatly influenced by a school nurse.

3. What are students aware of through working with the organization?

A．They can receive free treatment.

B．They can become successful artists.

C．They can access health knowledge easily.

D．They can be helpful in improving others’ lives.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Papirmeister's effort has been well recognized.

B．Papirmeister praises students for their progress.

C．Papirmeister asks people from all walks of life to support her.

D．Papirmeister makes a breakthrough in the medical community.